F 589 

S95 B2 
Copy 1 




Annals 



at Superior 



By Rev. John Morrison Barnett, D. D. 

Formerly Preslntcrian Missionary to the Lake Superior Region 



[From Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wiscoiwin, 1907 J 



MADISON 

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Of WISCONSIN 

1908 




John Morrison Barnett, D. D. 

Early Protestant missionary on Lake Superior 



Annals of the Early Protestant Churches 
at Superior 



By Rev. John Morrison Barnett, D. D. 

Formerly Presbyterian Missionary to the Lake Superior Region 



[From Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1907] 



MADISON 

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN 

1903 






MAR 10 ic 
.1). Of D, 



Superior Churches 



Annals of the Early Protestant 
Churches at Superior 



By Rev. John Morrison Barnett, D. D. 

As one of the first Protestant ministers to the towns at the 
head of Lake Superior during their formative period, I have 
been asked by the president of the Superior Historical Society 
to give a brief autobiogTaphy, and my recollections of the early 
religious work in that vicinity. 

I was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, May 
20, 1826. My parents were John Barnett, a farmer, and 
Nancy Morrison Barnett, both of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
Their parents were among the earliest settlers of Western 
Pennsylvania, and theirs again were among early colonists in 
Eastern Pennsylvania and took active part in that formative 
period. 

My first schooling was in subscription schools, the public 
school system of Pennsylvania not being then established. Af- 
terward I attended public school for two or three winters. My 
classical studies were pursued in Blairsville Academy and Jef- 
ferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, from which I grad- 
uated in 1849. T studied theology in the Western Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Allegheny, leaving that institution in 1855. 
Meantime I taught public school two terms in a neighborhood 
where I had attended subscription school when a lad, and af- 



3 Paper read before the Superior Historical Society, October 28. 1907. 

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terwards for three years and a half in Elder's Ridge Academy, 
Pennsylvania. 

In 1853 I attended the marriage of Miss Martha Bracken, 
near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, with Rev. J. Irwin Smith, 
missionary of the Presbyterian church at Ontonagon, Lake Su- 
perior. They were both intimate friends of mine, and before 
we separated I had agreed to visit them the next summer in 
their Lake Superior home. Having been licensed to preach 
in April, 1854, by the presbytery of Blairsville, I spent four 
months as a missionary of the Presbyterian Home Mission 
Board on Lake Superior, preached at Ontonagon in Mr. 
Smith's absence, and at a number of mines along the copper 
range, near Ontonagon. I became interested in the region 
and decided to return the next summer. In April of the next 
year, I was ordained as an evangelist by the presbytery of 
Blairsville, and during the same month was married to Miss 
Martha R. Elder, only daughter of James and Margaret Barn- 
eft Elder, of Elder's Ridge, Pennsylvania. 

With a commission as home missionary to the Lake Super- 
ior region we left Pennsylvania June 15, 1855, and reached 
Ontonagon June 22. I was to select my owm field of labor. 
Rumor had reached Ontonagon that a new town called Super- 
ior had been started at the head of the lake, but nothing defi- 
nite was known about it. I determined, however, to visit this 
region and inquire into the prospects for religious work. The 
lake steamer "Xorth Star" brought me into the Bay of Super- 
ior in the early morning of July 14. "When I came on deck 
the steamer was aground, the clouds were dark and lowering, 
and rain was falling. Behind Avas the lake, its waters almost 
black because of the dark clouds hanging over it ; around were 
the brown waters of the bay, and in front the long low shore 
line, with only two or three openings in the gloomy tamarack 
and balsam forest that covered the land. The prospect was a 
dismal one. 

When the boat reached Quebec pier I made my way to the 
land. The inland end of the pier was laid Avith poles, which 
were afloat, as the wind had been off the lake for a while. The 

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change was from water to mud. When I reached the top of 
the bank, Avhich was about thirty feet high, I saw Second 
Street cut out as far as the Nemadji River, about a mile dis- 
tant. The trees had been cleared in the winter when the snow 
Avas on the ground, and the stumps were still standing high. 
Winding through them was a wagon road which resembled a 
canal. 1 uuide my way as carefully as possible through the 
mud to Superior Hotel, a two-story building, the front part of 
which was built of logs. The town cattle were standing 
around the front porch, brushing off the flies. Inside the 
floors were still spotted with the mortar that had been dropped 
in plastering. After dinner I walked a mile up the bay shore 
to see Edmund F. Ely, whose name had been given to me by 
Mr. Roberts, treasurer of the American Board, as a member 
of the New School Presbyterian church. 'Mr. Ely told me 
that he expected a minister of his church soon. Observing 
that the place was too small for the services of two ministers 
so nearly allied in principle, I determined to seek a field else- 
where. I thereupon returned to the hotel, but the boat had 
left the pier and was lying near the entry. Following in a 
small boat and climbing a rope to reach the deck, I found that 
the wind was rising and that there would be no departure un- 
til Sunday morning. Therefore I returned to the hotel, and on 
Sunday afternoon preached to about twenty persons in what 
was intended for the bar room, but was still a work and 
barber shop, with work bench, shavings, and wash bowl in 
plain view. At night Rev. Mr. Pritchard, of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, preached to about the same number. 

During the week following I made a number of acquain- 
tances and learned where many of the residents lived. On 
Saturday night, or early in the week, Mr. Ely received a let- 
ter stating that the minister he expected was not coming, but 
anotlier had been heard of whom it was thought might come. 
This seemed too slender a hope on which to leave so many 
people without the gospel, and I decided to remain. I 
bought a couple of lots and selected church lots and a parson- 
age lot. 

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The larger settlement was then at Superior; there was a 
smaller one at Superior Citj, a mile distant; a few people 
at Connor's Point, West Superior, which was a swamp; a few 
more at Duluth; and a few at Coffee's Landing; some at One- 
ota ; and others at Fond du Lac, up the St. Louis River ; in all 
about fifteen hundred around the head of the lake. Whether 
the decision to remain was wise and whether I should remain 
was discussed with friends and with ministers and members 
of the Xew School for two or three years ; it ended bv my 
remaining six. It is certain that if the wind had not blown 
from the lake on that Saturday evening, and if Mr. Ely had 
not received that letter, I should have gone elsewhere. Or 
had the principles of Christian comity been practiced then as 
now, or could we have foreseen that in 1869 the Kew and Old 
School Presbyterians would be happily united in one body, 
the decision to remain would not have been so difficult. 

Having come to this conclusion, I returned to Ontonagon 
July 21, and on August 11, with Mns. Barnett, reached La 
Pointe on the steamer "Illinois," where we tarried until Aug- 
ust 21, when the steamer "Planet" carried us to Superior. 
These delays were caused by unwillingness to travel on Sun- 
days. Afterward some Sunday 'travel was midertaken, be- 
cause it was foiuid that otherwise appointments could not be 
kept. On the morning of August 25, 1855, I began my 
chosen work by preaching in Superior City at Mr. Ely's 
house to an audience of eleven adults and eight children. 
That afternoon service was held in Superior in a room in 
Buchman's Block, over Weill's drug store, Avhere twenty-three 
people had gathered. Services were continued in the Upper- 
toA\Ti, as it was then generally called, in a room furnished free 
of rent by ^h\ George R. Stuntz, until the neAV school-house 
was finished, and then that was utilized until it became too 
cold. The attendance varied from ten to thirty. A Sunday 
school was started on September 23, which continued with 
an attendance of from five to ten until Kovember 4, when it 
was discontinued because there were but few children in th^ 
settlement, most c>f the men being thei-e without their families. 

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111 Superior, service was held in the Buchman building or 
in the Barstow Block, with an attendance varying from ten 
to thirty or more. The weather, walking, and the coming in 
of boats in summer had much to do with the attendance. A 
Sunday school was started on September 23, with three little 
girls and seven adults. The girls were Mary Post, Nellie G. 
Hall, and Helen ^1. Gates. This school was continued with 
some interruptions as a union school until it gave place to the 
present denominational Sunday schools. Among its early 
teachers v.ero Mrs. J. I. Post, Mrs. E. B. Dean, and Mrs. J. 
M. Barnett. The first funeral took place on September 9, 
when the service was held in Barstow Block with a large at- 
tendance, mostly strangers to each other, but dra^vn together 
by the common bond of humanity and sympathy for the sore- 
ly afflicted family. The occasion was the dro\^'^liug in the 
Xemadji River on Saturday afternoon of Fred H. i^ewton, 
a very promising young man, the youngest brother of Mrs. 
Hiram Hayes and Mrs. H. M. Peyton. Two weeks later oc- 
curred the second funeral, infant child of Mr. and Mrs. George 
E. Xettleton. (Quietly and with tearful sympathy the little 
one, whose life had been so brief, was laid to rest on Minne- 
sota Point, where the waves continually sing its lullaby. 

On Tuesday evening, October 30, in accordance with a pre- 
vious notice, part of the congregation met in ]\[. S. Bright's 
law office and resolved to begin the organization of the Eirst 
Presbyterian church, Old School, by the election of a board 
of trustees, to which office were cbosen George E. !N"ettleton, J. 
B. Culver, George Hyer, John C. Eunston, and John M. 
Barnett. The board organized subsequently by the election 
of John M. Barnett, president and treasurer, and J. E. Carey, 
clerk. 

At this time I was the only Protestant minister in Superior. 
Inexperienced and far distant from any minister to whom I 
could go for advice and counsel, my nearest neighbor of the 
cloth being one hundred miles or more distant, the sense of 
loneliness Avas often hard to bear. Mr. Ely, who had been a 
teacher among the Indians under the American Board, showed 

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his Christian manliness by coming with his wife to spend the 
evening with us. He said he could not join with us in a 
church organization because he was pledged to the Jsevf 
School Presbyterian churchj and had ordered a bell for a new 
church building; but as a Christian brother he would gladly 
do all he could to help our work. 

On ^N^ovember 3, Rev. Joseph G. Wilson, Xew School Pres- 
byterian minister, arrived on the evening boat. He appear- 
ed to be between fifty and sixty years of age ; a man of exper- 
ience, ability, culture, and considerable literary attainments. 
He preached both sermons on Sunday, ISTovember 4, and in the 
evening organized at the house of Mr. Ely "The First Pres- 
byterian Church of Superior, New School." The members 
were Edmund P. Ely and his wife, then of Superior City, 
afterward of Oneota, Mr. H. W. Wheeler and wife, and L. H 
Merritt of Oneota. The arrangement of services in Super- 
ior City and Superior was continued, the ministers alternat- 
ing in preaching during November and December. The ser- 
vices in Uppertown were held at Mr. Stuntz's or the school 
house, with an attendance of from five to twenty; and in Su- 
perior in the Biiehman building, or the Minter building, with 
an attendance of from five to thirty or more. The first floor 
of the Minter building w^as occupied by a saloon and the third 
by a gambling room, so the preacher could often hear the 
jingle of the glasses below^ and the noise of the card tables 
above. 

The trustees of the church I had organized met on the 8th of 
November in M. S. Bright's office and decided to clear the 
lot, 236 AVest Third Street, and erect thereon a building 
40x22 feet in size, for church purposes, the foundation to be 
laid now and the structure to be put up later. During Decem- 
ber a thorough canvass of the region was made and the desti- 
tute supplied with bibles by gift or sale. A large number of 
copies of the American Messenger Avere also distributed. It 
was expected that the new school-house in Superior would be 
occupied January 6, 1856, for religious w'orship, but on Sat- 
urday the paint Avhich had been put on green, frozen wood, was 

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not dry. Mr. J. B. Culver and I rubbed it off so that on Mon- 
day, January 7, 185G, the first public school was opened with 
seventeen pupils, Miss N. C. Barnett, my sister, being the first 
teacher. Mr. Thouias Clark, one of the directors, who was 
deeply interested in the school, was present and at his request 
the first session Avas opened with prayer. The first religious 
service was held in the school-house January lo, 185(5. It 
was pleasant to know that for the present we had a permanent 
abiding place. Rev. Joseph G. Wilson conducted the opening 
service, and 1 preached the sermon to a congregation of over 
ohirty. 

On Monday night, January 14, 1856, in Mr. Wilson's 
room, trustees of the New School Presbyterian church were 
elected as follows: E. D. IsTeill, E. C. Becker, E. F. Ely, 
L. II. ^lorritt, and J. R. Carey, and they Avere duly organ- 
ized as such. Thi'ee days later, the trustees of the First Pres- 
byterian church, Old S'chool, met and discussed the matter of 
a church building. It was stated that the proposed building 
would cost about $1,200, and it was thought that $500 could 
be raised in town. A committee, previously appointed, re- 
ported that they had raised $270 for the minister's support, to 
which ten dollars was then added. This same evening Rev. 
J. G. Wilson delivered in the school house the first lecture in 
Superior on the subject ''Mormonism, Priestcraft, and Witch- 
craft,'' Avhich Avas ably handled. The following Sunday, a 
ncAv arrangement Avas begun, according to which two services, 
morning and afternoon, Avere held in Superior, and an after- 
noon service in Superior City. The same CA^ening at 6 :30 I 
attended the second Prostestant Episcopal lay service, conduct- 
ed by E. C. Clarke. On February 17, the first child was bap- 
tised, Franklin Augnistus, son of J. Warren and Mrs. ]\lary 
Jane Smith. February 18 of the same year, Rca*. James Peet, 
a licentiate of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife, 
reached Superior after a perilous ride from St. Paul across the 
country. Young and inexperienced, of fair ability and educa- 
tion, yet strenuous for all the forms of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, eATn in union meetings, he preached for me on the next 

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Sunday, but after that, except at eonmniuiou, he held separate 
services for a time until linally, after a number of conferences, 
alternate preaching was arranged. A communion service was 
proposed, and after conference the following notice was agreed 
on and the nnuouncement made February 24, in the school- 
house: "A (^)mmunion of the Lord's Supper will be adminis- 
tered here on next Sabbath, March 2, at 2 :80 P. M. It is de- 
signed to be a communion of members of the three churches, 
Presljyterian, Xcav and Old School, and Methodist Episcopal, 
whose ministers are here. All evangelical professors are cor- 
dially invited to unite with us in this celebration. Mr. Ed- 
iiuuid F. Fly, elder-elect of the Xew School Presbyterian 
church, will be ordained in connection with this service." 

According to appointment, a number of persons in sympa- 
tliy with the Presbyterian church. Old School, met in my study 
on the evening of March 1, 1856. After conference and 
prayer it was decided to organize an Old School Presbyterian 
church. John Gatherer, who had been a member in Scotland, 
I>ut had no certificate, and John 0. Jones, Avere received on ex- 
amination ; Mrs. G. W. Hall, by letter from the Baptist 
church of Brockport. ]\richigan ; and ^Mrs. J. Warren Smith and 
Mrs. J. M. Barnett by letter from Presbyterian churches in 
Pennsylvania. A form of covenant Avas adopted and accepted 
by all. It Avas resoh^ed to record the communion of the fol- 
loAving day as the first communion of this church, as it is 
also recorded as the first communion of the "New School 
churf'h. On the Sunday announced, Bca^ Mr. Wilson 
preached in the morning on the "Body and Blood of Christ." 
In the afternoon, after the reception of J. P. Carey and wife 
into membership in the ^N'eAv School church, and the ordina- 
tion of E. F. Ely as a ruling elder thereof, I explained the or- 
dinance of the supper and distributed the Avine, Mr. Wilson 
distri1)u<pd the 1)road, and Mr. Peet made the closmg remarks 
and offered tlie prayer. The communicants were: 'New 
School Presbyterian : E. F. Ely. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, L. 
H. ]\revritt, J. P. Carey and Avife : absent (sick), Mrs. Ely. 
Old School : John Gatherer, Mrs. J. WaiTon Smith, Mrs. G. 

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W. I hill. .M)-s. ,1. M. Baniott, Miss N. C. Baniett; absent, 
Jolm O. ')(»nes, sick. Methodist Episcopal church: Charles 
Felt, ^li's. Webster, .Mrs. Stiintz and Mrs. Loomis; absent on 
account of illness, Mrs. Peet and Mrs. Felt. Protestant Epis- 
copal cluuvh: Mrs. ,]. I. Post, .Mrs. George E. N'ettleton. 
Baptist church: Airs. J. B. (Jnlver, Mrs. Daniel Dewar. 
Also Mr. Bonyquin, Moravian, and Mr. Eayiiiond, Cougrega- 
tionalist, visitors. 

This, so far as known, was the first communion held in Su- 
perior. It is said that a comnmnion service had been 
held on Wisconsin Point. The Methodist Episcopal church 
at one time had a mission among the Indians at Fond du Lac, 
and it is probable con}munion was held there. 

Seven days later, Mr. Peet organized a Methodist Episcopal 
church in Superior City, with Charles Felt and wife and Mrs. 
Peet as members. There were two or three other members 
of the ]\[ethodist Episcopal church there, but they waited to 
get their letters before uniting with the organization. Mr. 
Wilson spent this Snnday at Oneota, Minnesota, and held 
there its first service. On IMarch 15, the first bell, a steel 
composition one, was erected in Superior by joint contribution 
of money and work by friends of the church. It was placed 
on the rear end of a lot back of Dr. Hohly's drug store, on 
Second street, and at its dedication Tlev. Air. Wilson made 
an ap])ropriate speech, and T rang it for the first time. 

\ colporteur, William S. Mitchell, of the Presbyterian 
Board of Publication. Old School, came to Superior, the 28tli 
of May. 1850. He visited the community generally and dis- 
posed of a large uuudjer of religious boolss. The organization 
of a jirayer meeting was next attempted, when on the evening of 
June 1 M. S. Bright and wife, Mrs. J. Warren Smith, Mrs. 
J. ]\f Baniett, Aliss N". C. Barnett, W. P. Young of Alilwaukee, 
William S. Harbison and his brother of Sbelbyville, Kentucky, 
met at my house, and William S. Afitchell conducted the meet- 
ing. It was decided to make the effort to continue this as a 
union prayer meeting and an appointment was made for the 
evening of .Tune 12. At that time only William B. Perry, a 

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M'anu-hearted and intelligent Baptist, and myself were present. 
We made another appointment and the prayer meeting lived 
and Avas continued with varied success till denominational 
prayer meetings took its place. Occasionally there were inter- 
missions, occasionally two prayer meetings, and occasionally it 
would be held for two or three weeks daily. 

The middle of June, Kev. Mr. Wilson left this field of labor, 
departing on the ''Lady Elgin," and Kev. Mr. Peet and I had 
the field to ourselves until July 8, when Rev. A. McCorkle, 
l^Tew School Presbyterian minister, arrived with his family, 
consisting of his wife and her sister, Miss Foster, and two 
children. This clergyman was younger than Mr. Wilson, of 
good ability and training, and a gentle spirit, and readily 
agreed to follow the mode already adopted in our service, t» 
alternate in preaching. His first sermon was given in Super- 
ior on the morning of July 13, and we both spent the night 
in Oneota, where he went to get acquainted with the people. 

On the sixth of July, the new rector of the Protestant 
Episcopal church, Rev. J. O. Barton, having arrived, their 
church, though not entirely completed, was occupied for ser- 
vice. A number of their people who had worshipped with 
us and kindly aided us in our service went of course to their 
own church and others were drawn thither by curiosity. We 
had only one lady left to sing, Mrs. J. Warren Smith, who 
although very timid led the singing well. Their congregation 
numbered sixty-two and ours twenty-five. 

I preached my first sermon in Duluth, on the 20th of July, 
in 11 little unfinished house on the Point, occupied by Mr. and 
Mrs. Fred Ryder, to a congregation of twelve adults and some 
four boys. Twenty-five years after, I preached the same sermon 
to the First Presbyterian congregation in a neat frame church 
on the mainland. Twenty-three years later than that, I 
preached on the same text to the First Presbyterian congre- 
gation of Duluth in an $80,000 stone building. 

During my absence in Pennsylvania from July 28 to Oc- 
tober 26, Rev. ]\rr. McCorkle and Rev. Mr. Peet kept up the 
services, although the prayer meeting was given up for a time, 

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but by November 26 it was resumed. Nearly all the people 
having moved away from Superior City, services ceased No- 
vember 16- On the 2d of November, George Newton was 
elected superintendent of the Superior Sunday school, and Miss 
Foster assistant superintendent. New faces had come into the 
congregation and the number in attendance was as large as it 
had been at any time. 

The trustees of my church, encouraged by the increase of 
population and the building of houses in that direction, fin- 
ally decided to build on the ch\irch lots on Sixth street, but 
the decision proved unwise. In 1857 a building .^)0 x 80 was 
begun, which was to cost $2,500; the frame erected and roof- 
ed, and the cornice put on. The panic of '57 was, however, 
beginning to affect the Northwest and the growth of Superior 
was checked, though its full force was not felt in this locality 
until 1860-61. Colonel Jones, the railway contractor, had 
agreed to finish the room for prayer meeting and Sunday 
school, but the collapse of the railroad took him away before 
his promise M'as fulfilled and no further work was done on the 
building. 

The Protestant Episcopal was the only church observing 
Thanksgiving Day, November 20, 1856, when Eev. J. O. 
Barton, the rector, preached a sermon on the ''Duty of 
Thanksgiving." Previous meetings for arrangement having 
been held on November 22 and 29, a temperance meeting was 
held December 5, in the school-house, at which thirteen per- 
sons were present, all of whom signed the pledge. A consti- 
tution was adopted and the following ofiicers elected: Hiram 
Hayes, ])resident ; Rev. W. A. McCorkle, vice-president; 
Richard Washington, secretary; George Newton, Charles Felt, 
and another, executive committee. A number of such meet- 
ings were held at irregular times, and addresses were made by 
several persons, when many signers of the temperance pledge 
were obtained. 

On December 12, Charles Felt met with a number of per- 
sons to ascertain what could be done to secure a class for the 
study of vocal music, when J. G. Parkhurst and Hiram Rob- 

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bins Avcvo appointed a coniniittee to inquire into the matter. 
Although I have no further record of this movement, my rec- 
ollection is that a class was organized and that Mr. Felt gave 
instructions in vocal music during the Avinter. A meeting 
v:i\< held at Mrs. Bright's on December 15, to consult about 
the formation of a sewing society to aid in the erection of the 
church l)nilding. There were present Mrs. M. S'. Bright, 
Mrs. J. Warren Smith, Mrs. J. T. Smith, ]\[rs. T. A. Taylor, 
Mrs. G. W. Hall, Miss J. K. Shaw, Mrs. J. M. Baruett. 
This society continucMl in active operation till '59 or 'GO and 
raised a considerable amount of money. Avhich was used for 
the benetit of the church. 

On December 18, 1S5G, T had my lirst wedding in Super- 
ior. It was a double one in two respects, for there were two 
•MUj.'les jiud a rehearsal was had before the real marriage, be- 
cause not understanding English very well they were afraid 
they might not say ''yes'' in the right place. The parties wei*e 
Peter IToifenberger and ^liss Dora Basolo. and Andrew Ror- 
ig and Mi«s ]\!argaret Iloffenberger, and the wedding took 
place in j\fr. 1 Toff enbcrger's house. 

On December 20, a meeting was held at the house of Tlez- 
ekiah Shaw to organize a Union Tract Society at which Kevs. 
^McCorkle, Peet, and Barnett, Mrs. Hiram Robbins, ]\[rs. H. 
W. Shaw, Miss J. R. Shaw, Mrs. E. H. Brown, Miss Hattie 
Harmony, Mrs, ,T. ]\r. Barnett were present. Mrs. Barnett 
was elected ])i-esideut, "Mrs. T, A. Taylor secretary and treas- 
urer, ]\rrs. Brown, ^Fiss Harmony, and ]\rrs. R. G. Coburn, 
executive committee. This society continued its work until 
about the close of 185S and visited many families and circu- 
lated a large amount of religious literature. 

During the week ])revious to December 28 a heavy snow 
stonn had driven a large amount of snow in on the ceiling of 
the school house. While service Avas being held it began to 
luelt and ran dovrn on the heads of the congregation, and be- 
fore the close of the exercises the audience was gathered in 
one coi'ner of the room to escape the water. 

On the 15tli of .raunary, a donation ])arty in the interest 

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of tlio ProsLvtoi-iaii minister, Old School, was held at the 
house, of Hiram Kol)l)ins, Avhen about fifty persons attended, 
and the cash results were $114.25 and gToeeries, etc. $43. 
'r]\o next uiiilit the school-house Avas crowded to hear an ad- 
mirable lecture from Hiram Hayes, president of the teraper- 
ancf^ society. In the same place a month later. Rev. Wil- 
liam A. ^fcCorkle gave a fine lecture before a large audience, 
on "Education." 

The Presbyteriau organization, Xew School, having com- 
pleted a chapel 40x22 on Third street, the union congrega- 
tion was invited to worship with them. The invitation was 
accepted, ami on February 22, 1857, the union congTegation 
met in the new house of worship. Rev. W. A. McCorkle 
preached in the morning and Rev. James Peet in the after- 
noon. Sunday school and prayer meeting were also held in 
the new church. Rev. .Tames Peet made appointment for his 
prayer meeting and class meeting to be held in the school 
house on Thursday night. The audiences in Superior now 
reached sixty or seventy. On March 3 I delivered a lecture 
in the school house on "The Duty of the Working Man to 
Educate Himself." Services were continued at Superior, Su- 
perior City, Oneota. and Duluth, with occasional services at 
Coffee's Landing, except as the preacher was hindered from 
reaching there by ice, or water and storm. The attendance 
in Sni)erior often reached sixty or seventy, and Tuly 12 reached 
one hundred, and at other points fifteen or twenty. Rev. 
Mr. Bertram, a German Methodist Episcopal minister located 
at the Cliflf Mine, Michigan, came on the 28th of May, and 
visited the German people and preached several times, and 
duriu.o- the following summer made two or three more visits. 

Juue 14, Rev. T). Brooks and Rev. James Peet came under 
appointment by the Methodist E]nscopal church, the former 
to act as minister in charge at Superior and the latter to labor 
at Bayfield. According to a previous notice, a meeting was 
held in the Presbyterian church on June 20, 1857, and the 
Bible Society of Douglas County organized. The constitu- 
tion proposed by the American Bible Society Avas adopted. 

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William E. Perry was chosen president; J. T. Smith, vice- 
president; I. W. Gates, secretary; George Xewton, treasurer; 
I. W. Gates, E. M. Hall, J. G. Parkhurst, and H. EoKbins, 
executive committee. The annual meeting was fixed for the 
third Monday in July. An effort was made to canvass the 
whole community to see that every family was supplied with 
a bible. 

The Fourth of July was celebrated by an excursion do^^Ti 
the north shore on the steamer "Illinois.'' 

Mr. T. E. Elder, of Elder's Eidge, having accepted an ap- 
pointment as missionary to Lake Superior, was ordained as 
an evangelist by the presbytery of Kittanning April, 1857, 
and having married Miss Maria Elder he came to Lake Su- 
perior and located at Bayfield. On August 15, in the even- 
ing, a meeting was held in Bayfield and a Presbyterian church 
was organized, consisting of J. H. ^N^ourse and Mrs. bourse, 
and Mrs. T. E. Elder. Mr. I^J'ourse was elected elder and 
ordained to that office on Sunday, the 10th. In May of that 
year the general assembly of the Presbyterian church. Old 
School, erected the presbytery of Lake Superior to consist of 
Eev. J, Irwin Smith and the Presbyterian church of Onton- 
agon; Eev. John M. Barnett and the Presbyterian church of 
Superior; Eev. T. E. Elder and any other Presbyterian 
churches, Old School, that might be organized in the lake re- 
gion. The presbytery was to meet at Ontonagon on August 
10, at eleven A. M., and to be called to order and the opening 
sermon preached by Eev. John M. Barnett, who was to pre- 
side until a moderator was chosen. On August 19, according 
to order of the general assembly, the presbytery of Lake Su- 
perior met in the Presbyterian church at Ontonagon at eleven 
A. M. Present: Eev. Jolm :M. Barnett, Eev. T. E. Elder, 
and two ruling elders. Eev. J. I. Smith was absent because 
of the sickness of his wife and daughter. Adjourned until 
seven P. ]\[. At that hour the presbytery met and was 
opened with a sermon by Eev. John INF. Barnett, who called 
the presbytery to order and constituted it by prayer. Eev. 
J. T. Smith was elected moderator, and Eev. John !M. Barnett 

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temporary and stated clerk. The presbj^tery transacted its 
business that evening and the next day it adjourned to meet 
the next spring in Superior. On Augiist 28, I left Mr. El- 
der at Bayfield and came home. But on Sunday, September 
6, hearing that Mr. Elder was very sick I went to Bayfield 
on the 7th and found that he was dead; and thus the newly 
organized presbytery was broken up. He was buried Sep- 
te)uber Srh, on tho bluff just out of the town. The body was 
afterward taken back to Pennsylvania and buried at Elder's 
Ridge among his kinsfolk. 

The New School presbytery met at Marquette September 
8, 1857. 

Rev. D. Brooks, who seems to ha\"e been alisent since his 
first visit to Superior, returned on September 6 and took 
charge of the Methodist Episcopal work at that place. Mr. 
Brooks was of middle age, born in England, and while there 
a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church ; Vv'e found him 
in the main a very pleasant co-laborer. 

Thanksgiving, Xovember 26, was observed by our congrega- 
tion, when I preached the sermon. On the 6th of December, 
1857, the Methodist Episcopal people having completed their 
church building, dedicated it to the worship of God. Rev. 
W. A. McCorkle preached at the morning service, while I 
made the dedication prayer and preached at night to good con- 
gregations. After this Mr. McCorkle and I alternated, and 
kept up service in Superior, Superior City, and in Oneota, 
where the school-house had been completed l^ovember 1 ; and 
in Duluth as strength and weather permitted. While some of 
our members had left and gone to their own churches, others 
came in and our congregations were but little reduced. By 
January 1, 1858, the Sunday school had grown to forty child- 
ren, with a number of adults. 

On December 29, a second donation was given us, seventy 
or eighty persons being present. The presents were: cash, 
$81, and dry goods and groceries to the amount of $106.58. 
On the next day Colonel Hiram Hayes presented me with a 

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gold watch, wliicli I still carrv, exce])t as it has been changed 
by repairs. 

On May 11, Rev. Mr. McCorkle left to attend his general 
assembly and Rev. ^h\ Whitney, Methodist Episcopal minis- 
ter now in charge, went to attend his conference, so I was left 
alone. The attendance at prayer meeting reached sixty and 
during this month the meetings alternated between the Pres- 
byterian and Methodist churches. My congregation May 30, 
1858, Avas one hundred and fifty. 

On May VA, Rev. J. I. Smith and Rev. William B. Mc- 
Kee, who took Mr. Elder's place at Bayfield, came to Super- 
ior. They reported that our general assembly had re^erected 
the presbytery of Lake Superior with Rev. W. B. McKee as 
the third member, and had appointed a meeting in August at 
Superior; but it seemed very important in the exigencies of 
the case that presbytery meet earlier and therefore they came 
at this time. June 1, at 10:30 A. M., the presbytery of Lake 
Superior, Old School, met in the Presbyterian church, New 
School, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. J. I. Smith 
and constituted with prayer by him. He was elected moder- 
ator, and John M. Barnett temporary and stated clerk. Af- 
ter transacting its business, presbytery adjourned June 3 to 
meet in Bayfield. Rev. Mr. McCorkle returned from the 
general assembly and preached in the evening of June 1. 
Brothers Smith and ^IcKee likewise preached in Superior 
several times. 

Rev. Mr. McCorkle expected the presbytery of Lake Su- 
perior, 'New School, to meet here after July 11. On the 12th 
Rev. Dr. Duffield of Detroit came, but no others. It was a 
great disappointment. Dr. Duffield spent Sunday, July 18, 
Avith us and preached an excellent sermon. At night Rev. 
Mr. McCorkle preached, and after service Mr. Robbins came 
into my house and surprised me greatly by saying that was 
Mr. McCorkle's last sermon and that he would leave on the 
following Friday, the reason being insufficient support. 
"Wlien Mr. McCorkle left, the trustees of the church placed 
it in ray care for the time they might be without a minister. 

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He left S"iiperit»i' on the steamer "Xorth Star" When the 
vessel came iu she hr(tnght Tvev. George Hill, who had been 
my boyhood pastor, his wife and three ehihlren. What a joy 
it "was to ns ! Broken down in health he never expected to 
preach again, but came with the hope that the climate might 
benefit him. lie stayed until the next June and went home 
and preached for eight or ten more years. Rev. John Robin- 
son of Ashland, Ohio, cauie with ]\Ir. ITill and remained two 
Sundays and preached twice, on the 21st and 28th, and left 
us August 2. 

Rev. Joseph G. W^ilson came back on a brief visit August 2 
and preached on the morning of x\ugust 8. I had now Su- 
perior, Su]>erior Gity, Dulutli, aud Oneota to supply, and 
this I did to the best of my ability. On the 22nd of August, 
the school-house in Superior City was opened for preaching 
and service was held in it at night. 

Septeud)er 20, Rev. '^^r. Peck, a Baptist minister, with his 
wife came on the "l^orth Star," to remain here and preach to 
the Baptist people. I received a note from Rev. J. I. Sinith, 
of Ontonagon, telling me that he was at Bayfield and that I 
should come that we might have a meeting of the presbytery. 
Ser>uring Rev. Mr. Peck to preach for me. I went on the 
"Star" to Bayfield, sister going with me- The presbytery of 
Lake Superior, Old School, met in Bayfield September 27 
at 10:30 A. M. Rev. J. I. Smith preached the opening ser- 
mon and constituted presbytery with prayer. Sessions were 
held on various days and two sermons pre&ched until October 
4, when presbytery finally adjourned to meet iu Ontonagon 
the next April. 

This autumn a box of clothing was sent to the Presbyterian 
missionaries on Take Superior. This was divided between 
those at Ontonagon, Bayfield, and Superior, and brought very 
substantial comfort to them all and filled their hearts with 
gratitude to the givers and to Him who had prompted the 
gift. October 26. the Douglas County Bible Society met 
with about thirty present. The town was divided into three 

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districts and distributers appointed so that every family 
might be reached, and an agent was appointed for the county. 

On the Tth of December it was agreed by the three minis- 
ters present, Revs. Brooks, Peck and Barnett, to hold three un- 
ion meetings the next week, to pray specially for a revival of 
religion, and they agreed to be guided in regard to future 
meetings by the interest manifested. The union meetings 
were continued for three weeks with some encouragement 
when they were broken up by the severe weather. There 
were some gains in membership to the churches, but these did 
not equal the losses, as many were moving away because of the 
hard times. 

The second day of the new year, 1859, communion was held 
in the Presbyterian church, when Rev. Mr. Hill assisted. 
The attendance was not large, but nearly all present remain- 
ed through the service. x\fter this I went with Rev. Mr. Hill 
on a visit to St. Paul and Hudson and returned February 2. 
St. Paul at that time had a population of about 12,000. On 
the 20th of February by request I held communion at Oneo- 
ta and baptised Mr. Ely's two younger children. The com- 
municants were Mr. Ely and wife and son Frank, Mr. and 
Mrs. Wright, :Mrs. Brown, J. R. Carey, L. H. Merritt, Mr. 
Wheeler, Napoleon Merritt and wife. 

According to appointment I met April 9, with some 
Swedes, at the house of John Johnson to arrange for meetings 
with them for religious service. Thirteen of that nationality 
were present, M'hen part of a eha^Dter was read and prayer was 
offered and ^Ir. Hunter read one of Luther's sermons. Later, 
additional i-eiiiarks were made and a hymn sung. They 
agreed to meet every Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. At the 
second meeting sixteen were present. This meeting was kept 
up for some time with a varying attendance of from fifteen 
to twenty or more, until it was found that Mr. Hunter was 
an infidel and his talk was likely to counteract any good that 
might be done. 

A temperance meeting with an attendance of about forty, 
was held May 2, in the Presbyterian church. Remarks were 

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made by Rev. Mr. Peck and myself, but the principal talk 
was by Rev. George Hill. Twenty-two signers to the pledge 
were obtained and a committee appointed to consider the best 
course of action to aid the temperance cause. 

The trustees of the N^ew School Presbyterian church build- 
ing, in view of my expected absence for two months, asked 
that the care of their church building be restored to them, 
which was done with earnest thanks for its use. On May 22 
I preached in the morning and told the congregation that I 
expected to be absent for two months or more on a visit to 
Pennsylvania, and that I expected to return and resume my 
work. Three days later the "l!^orth Star" came ; although the 
lake was free from ice, the harbor was still closed, and the 
boat lay outside. Rev. J. I. Smith had gone on the previous 
trip of the "Star" to attend the general assembly, as a com* 
misioner from the presbytery of Lake Superior, Old School. 
The boat left at dark with Rev. George Hill and family and 
myself and wife and child. We went to visit home friends 
whom we reached safely May 31, after an absence of three 
years. While on this vacation I visited Kentucky and raised 
there and in Pennsylvania $887, for the church in Snperior. 
On our return we left Pennsylvania September 3 and reached 
Ontonagon September 10. Rev. Mr. McKee came from Bay- 
field, and presbytery met in Ontonagon Thursday, Septem- 
ber 15, at 7 P. M., and after a sermon was constituted with 
prayer by the moderator. A call for the ministerial labors of 
Rev. J. Irvin Smith from the First Presbyterian church of 
Ontonagon, Old School, was placed in his hands. He ac- 
cepted it and was installed as pastor. At the installation 
service Rev. William B. McKee preached the sermon. Rev J. 
M. Barnett presided, proposed the constitutional questions, 
and gave the charge to the pastor, while Rev. William B. Mc- 
Kee gave the charge to the people. The presbytery complet- 
ed its business and adjourned September 18. 

We reached our Superior home Septmber 18, 1859, and I 
at once resumed my work, preaching at Snperior every morn- 
ing and sometimes in the evening and in Superior City and 
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Oneota and Dulutli, The New School church building was 
occupied until April 22, 18G0, when we entered our own rent- 
ed building which we had fitted up for church sendees on Sec- 
ond street, next to Dr. Hohly's drug store. Rev. J. Pugh was 
preaching in the Methodist Episcopal church and Rev. Mr. 
Peck to the Baptists. The New School was still without a 
minister. From this time on services were field mostly in the 
Second street place of meeting, sometimes in the New School 
church. The members of the latter, faithful in their atten- 
dance and support, helped in all ways they could to carry on 
the work of Christ. 

On the 10th of May, 1860, the steamer, with the one the 
week before, had taken away four of my best families, includ- 
ing about twenty-five persons. The tide that had been flow- 
ing in to Superior and Duluth was checked and was now ebb- 
ing. The population was growing less in numbers and means. 

On the 5 th of August, Eev. Mr. Rice, of Lafayette, Indi- 
ana, came to Superior for a month's visit and preached to the 
New School people. On the 19th we communed with them 
in the New School church by invitation and had a very en- 
joyable occasion. 

Rev. J. I. Smith and Rev. William B. McKee came on the 
29th of August, 1860, and the presbytery of Lake Superior, 
Old School, held its annual meeting. Communion was held 
on Sunday, September 2, with an attendance of seventy. 
Two Sundays, October 9 and 16, were spent in St. Paul at- 
tending the organization and meeting of the synod of St. Paul. 

On November 29 a union Thanksgiving meeting was held 
in the Methodist Episcopal church, where I preached the ser- 
mon. 

During the winter of '60 and '61 one or two series of union 
meetings were held for two or three weeks at a time, usually 
with a quickening effect on the members, but with little in- 
gathering from the world. February 15, 1861, I held com- 
munion at Oneota. Miss Jane Ely was received on examin- 
ation. Seventeen persons communed. For several months 

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the prayer meeting was held alternately in the 'New and Old 
School places of worship. 

Early in May of this year I started to Philadelphia to at- 
tend the meeting of the general assembly of the Presbyterian 
church, Old School, as commissioner from the presbytery of 
Lake Superior. After being absent four months I returned 
to Superior and preached in my own church September 8, 
1861, to a congregation that now reached over sixty or seven- 
ty. I took up the work and continued preaching at Superior, 
Superior City, Oneota, and Duluth as weather permitted un- 
til :N'ovember 2, 1861, when I finally left the field. The hard 
times were pressing very heavily on all. The population was 
reduced to almost what it was six years before, and in conse- 
quence the membership of all the churches had greatly dimin- 
ished. My o-\vn little flock suffered more perhaps than any 
Other. It was with great regret that I left the field, and I 
have watched with interest the later growth of the region and the 
increase of the church. The memories of my stay in Super- 
ior are very j^leasant. I was treated with unvarying kind- 
ness by all. Catholic and Protestant alike, with whom I came 
in contact- There are now many churches and church mem- 
bers, and the Presbyterian church has a number of organiza- 
tions and nearly two thousand members in that region. The 
great reaper has been constantly at work through all these 
years and but few^ remain whom I knew before I left in 1861 ; 
but ray visit in 1904 proves that there is true friendship in 
the world and that friendship will stand the test of many 
years. God grant that all friendship may be such as will last 
throughout eternity/ 



1 After leaving Superior in November, 1861, Dr. Barnett became pas- 
tor of the Old School Presbyterian Church at Mount Pleasant, West- 
moreland County, Pa., where he remained eight years; and upon the 
union of the two schools had charge of the Connellsville church for 
twelve years. In May, 1882, he became financial agent for Washington 
and Jefferson College, and ten years later was chosen chaplain of Mar- 
kleton Sanatorium, at a town of the same name — an office hell until 
his leath. December 17, 1907, at the age of 82 years. — Ed. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 



APPENDIX 



Deaths in Superior and vicinity and funerals conducted (ex- 
cept as noted) by Rev. John M. Barnett. 

I have a note of three deaths previous to September 8, 1855. Doubt- 
less there were a number of others, of which some one may be able to 
give account. 

1855. 

Mrs. Rogers. — No particulars. 

Mr. Melzar of Buffalo. — An American, found dead on the ice. 

An Irishman. — Died in Superior of typhoid fever. 

Sept. 8. Frederick H. Newton. — Age eighteen; drowned in the Ne- 
madji River, services held in Barstow Block, Sunday, Sept. 9; buried 
on First street, Superior. 

A German. — Typhoid fever; died alone. 

Oct. 13. A babe, child of George E. and Mrs. Nettleton. — Age seven 
weeks; services in their home; burial on Minnesota Point. 

1856. 

Mar. 7. Mrs. Ellen Shaw. — Age 22; died of inflammation of boweis; 
suffered from neglect; services in the home March 8; burial along the 
military road. 

May 24. Daughter of Theodore and Mrs. Mason. — Died May 23; 
services in their home, Superior City. 

May 27. Babe of Charles and Mrs. Chester. — Age two or three 
weeks; not well from birth; services at home, Superior City; burial on 
Wisconsin Point. 

June — . Child of William and Mrs. Maher. — Inflammation of brain. 

Oct. 26. Mrs. Barton. — Wife of Rev. J. O. Barton, rector of the 
Protestant Episcopal church; died of lung trouble; funeral conducted 
by one of their own ministers; burial in the new cemetery along the 
military road. 

Nov. 9. A Frenchman, George Goodchild. — Broke through the ice 
and was drowned while skating; burial in the new cemetery; do not 
know who conducted services. 

Nov. 24. Henry Robinson. — Age about thirty-six; drowned while 
crossing St. Louis Bay with a small boat-load of provisions; Rev. 
James Peet conducted funeral services in the school-house, Superior 
City; burial in the new cemetery. 

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Dec. 2. Orville A. Smith. — Age four yeai-s; son of John T. and Mrs. 
Harriet D. Smith; died of croup; funeral Thursday, Dec. 4, 11 A. M.; 
services at his home; Rev. W. A. McCorkle assisted; burial at the 
cemetery. 

1S57. 

Feb. 10. Child of Mr. and JNIrs. Greene. — Age about seven months; 
sick most of its life; services at the home Feb. 12, 10 A. M.; buried 
in lot beside the house, Superior. 

Mar. 19. Charles Smith. — ■ Infant son of John T. and Mrs. Harriet 
D. Smith; died of scarlatina; services at the home 2 P. M., Mar. 20; 
burial in the cemetery. 

June 12. Mrs. Christina Dewar. — Wife of Daniel Dewar; age thirty- 
four years; died of puerperal fever, sick two weeks; services at her 
home June 14; burial in the cemetery. 

Aug. 31. Child of Capt. and Mrs. Garrett, Oneota, Minn. 

Oct. 8. John Peterson. — Swede; age twenty-seven; died of typhoid 
fever at a blacksmith's on Sixth street; sick about two weeks; burial 
in cemetery. 

Oct. 17. David Evans. — Welsh; died of typhoid fever; sick several 
weeks; services at his home 10 A. M. on the 19th; assisted by Rev. 
D. Brooks; burial in the cemetery. 

1S5S. 

Jan. IS. Son of Michael S. and Mrs. Sarah Bright. — An infant; died 
suddenly on the 16th of the evening, the fourth they have lost; services 
at their home; buried on Minnesota Point. 

Mar. 17. — ^Joseph Lepamme. — French; died March 17, 7 P. M., of 
consumption; Presbyterian; services at his boarding house. Revs. W. A. 
McCorkle and Mr. Whitney M. E. assisted; burial in the cemetery. 

Apr. 12. MoUie Culver. — Daughter of Col. J. B. Culver and Mrs. 
Culver, age about one year; services at their home, Duluth; buried on 
Minnesota Point about half a mile below their house. 

May 12. Mr. Evans of Cleveland. — Services held at 2 P. M. 

June 21. Infant son of John and Isabella Baxter. — Aged about nine 
months; lungs affected; funeral 10 A. M. 22nd, services at the house; 
burial in cemetery, 

July 25. Infant daughter of John A. and Mrs. Coburn. — Services 
in home, Superior, at 2 P. M.; burial in cemetery. 

1859. 
Sept. 22. Willie Evans. — Son of Mrs. Evans, widow of David; serv- 
ices at house, 2 P. M. 23rd; burial in cemetery. 

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Nov. 4. Minnie L. Taylor. — Daughter of Tliomas A. and Mrs. Sarah 
A. Taylor, aged two years; services in the home 4 P. M., Superior; 
burial in cemetery. 

Nov. 8. Charles D. Boyd. — Sou of Dr. and Mrs. Boyd, aged two 
years, one month, and eleven days; services in home at 2 P. M.; buried 
in cemetery. 

Nov. 19. Peyton Spencer. — Son of Dr. and Mrs. Spencer, aged one 
year and eight months; services in home 3 P. M. ; burial in cemetery. 

1860. 

Jan. 27. Robbie Wright. — Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Oneota, 
Minnesota, age about six and a half years; services in home 11 A. M.; 
buried at Oneota. 

Jan. 29. A Swede. — Aged about twenty-six years; services at Mr. 
Lars Lenroot's house, half past two P. M.; burial in cemetery. 

Feb. 23. Norah Simmons. — 'Daughter of Mrs. John Grant, Duluth, 
Minn.; services at her house, Duluth, 2 P. M. 

Aug. 26. Charles Davidson. — Superior, aged eighteen. 

Oct. 10. Caroline SCott. — Daughter of John A. and Mrs. Jeanette 
Scott, Superior City, aged two years, eight months, and seventeen 
days; services in their home at 2 P. M. ; burial in cemetery. 

Nov. 11. Babe of John R. Smith and Mi's. Jane Smith. — Superior 
City, age two weeks and one day; services at their home; burial in 
cemetery. 

Dec. 23. Samuel Frank. — German, Duluth, Minn., aged thirty-two. 

1861. 
Jan. 20. Capt. J. A. Markland. — Attorney at law; aged thirty-two; 
a man of marked ability; had been captain in Mexican War, and 
judge of Douglas County. 

This completes the list as far as I have been able to gather it 
from rather imperfect records. 



Marriages in Superior and vicinity, porformod by Rev. Joini 
M. Bamett. 

Dec. 18, 1856, at P. Hoffenberger's, Peter Hoffenberger and Miss 
Dora Basolo, Superior; Andrew Rorig and Miss Margaret Hoffenberger, 
Superior. 

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Aug. 3, 1857, at the minister's house, Albert H. Nye and Miss Jeru- 
sha R. Shaw, Superior. 

Apr. 18, 1858, at the minister's house, Diedrich Schutte, Superior, 
and Miss Margaret Swain, Canada. 

Apr. 28, 1858, at the minister's house, Augustus Demorest and Miss 
Anna Maria Jones, Oneota, Minn. 

May 2, 1S5S, at Miss Slayton's shop. Second St., Bradford Barlow, 
Superior, and Miss Sophia Slayton, lower Wisconsin. 

June 7, 1858, at the minister's house, Carlisle Doble and Miss Ellen 
Moran, Superior. 

July 21, 1S5S, at W. Q. Allen's, Duluth, Robt. E. Jefferson, Duluth, 
Minn., and Miss Lucy A. Sowles, Superior. 

Aug. SI, 1858, at E. H. Brown's, Dr. W. W. Perry and Miss Sophia 
Barrett, Superior. 

Nov. 17, 1858, at J. D. Ray's, P. B. Danielson and Miss Anna Coade, 
Superior. 

Apr. 12, 1859, at Colonel Culver's, Duluth, Wm. Epler, Jacksonville, 
111., and Miss Jennie A. Woodman, Pawpaw, Mich. 

Jan. 30, 1869, at Evans's house, John R. Smith and Mrs. Jane 
Evans, Superior. 

Aug. 4, 18€9, at the minister's house, Henry Smith and Miss Mary 
Elis Sidney, Superior. 

Sept. 30, 1860, at bride's house, Gustav Adolph Schulze and Miss 
Mollie Hohly, Superior. 

Dec. 6, 1860, at groom's house, John Peterson and Miss Ellen Wilson, 
Superior. 

April 21, 1861, at bride's house, George Eaton and Mrs. Ann Daly, 
Superior. 



Baptisms in Superior and vicinity conducted bv Rev. Tohn 
M. Barnett. 

Feb. 17, 1856. Franklin Augustus, son of J. Warren and Mrs. Jane 
Smith, Superior. 

July 27, 1856, John Frederick, son of John Frederick and Mrs. J. F. 
Bischof, Superior, born June 24, 1855. 

Dec. 7, 1856, William, son of John A. and Mrs. Jeannette Scott, Su- 
perior City, born July 5, 1854; also John, born Apr. 31, 1856. 

Apr. 12, 1857, John, son of John and Mrs. Elizabeth Gatherer, Su- 
perior City, born May 1, 1852; also James, born Aug. 4, 1856. 

Aug. 28, 1857, John Bond, son of John H. and Mrs. Garrett, Superior, 
born May 26, 1857, at Lockport, N. Y.; died Aug. 29, 1857. 

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Oct. 16, 1857, William Gilbert, Mary Jane, and Robert Young, chil- 
dren of John and Mrs. Isabella Baxter, Superior. 

Oct. 16, 1857, William, son of William and Mrs. Schuester, Superior. 

Feb. 23, 1858, Joseph Lapamme, on profession of faith. 

April 22, 1858, Mathilda Anne, daughter of Charles and Mrs. Witte, 
Superior. 

Apr. 22, 1858, Minna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clawson, Superior. 

Apr. 22, Bertha, daughter of William and Mrs. Schuester, Superior. 

July 1, 1858, Ida Putman, daughter of J. Warren and Mrs. Mary Jane 
Smith, Superior. 

Oct. 24, 1858, Caroline, daughter of John A. and Mrs. Jeannette 
Scott, Superior City. 

Dec. 19, 1858, John Fi'ederick, son of John Frederick and Mrs. 
Bischof, Superior. 

Feb. 29, 1859, Edward Neill and George Louis, sons of Edmund F. 
and Mrs. Ely, Oneota, Minn. 

May 3, 1859, Minnie Lake, daughter of Thomas A. and Mrs. Sarah A. 
Taylor, Superior. 

Nov. 27, 1859, Samuel, son of John and Mrs. Elizabeth Gatherer, 
Superior City. 

Mar. 31, 1860, Ellen Catherine Lane, on profession of faith. 

May 13, 1860, Amelia, daughter of Sixtus and Mrs. Hoffman, Supe- 
rior. The mother died in childbirth. 

Oct. 28, 1861, John, son of William and Mrs. Suswold, Oneota, Mina. 



Census of churcli members, December 31, 1856. 

New School Presbyterian — Rev. William A. McCorkle, minister, Su- 
perior. Mrs. McCorkle and sister. Miss Foster; J. R. Carey and wife; 
Mrs. E. H. Brown and sister. Miss Barrett; E. H. Brown and Mrs 
Sawyer, Congregationalists. At Oneota: E. F. Ely and wife; Mr. and 
Mrs. Wheeler; Mr. and Mrs. Wright; L. H. Merritt. At Duluth: Fred 
W. Ryder and wife. 

Old School Presbyterian — Rev. John M. Barnett, minister, Supe- 
rior. Members: Mrs. J. M. Barrett, John Jones, Mrs. J. Warren Smith, 
Mrs. J. T. Smith, Mrs. G. W. Hall, Mrs. T. A. Taylor, Miss J. R. Shaw, 
Mrs. M. S. Bright. Superior City, Mrs. John A. Scott, John 0. Jones. 
Fond du Lac, Minn., John Gatherer and wife. 

Methodist Episcopal — Rev. James Peet, licentiate minister, Superior. 
Members: J. M. Clark, George Newton, R. G. Coburn and wife. Supe- 
rior City, Charles Felt and wife, Mrs. James Peet. Oneota, Mrs. L. H. 

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Merritt. On probation, Daniel Martin, Mrs. L. H. Morrell, Alex. 
Elliott. 

Baptist — No minister. Members: William R. Perry and wife, Mrs. 
George W. Perry, Mrs. J. B. Culver; at Duluth, Mrs. J. C. Funston, 
Mr. Atkinson, Daniel Dewar and wife. 

Free Will Baptist — No minister. Members: Hiram Robbins and 
wife. Miss Hattie and Miss Elizabeth Harmony. 

German Reformed — John Frederick Bischof and wife. 

Protestant E^nscopal — Rev. J. O. Barton, rector. Members: E. C. 
Clarke and wife; Thomas Clark and wife and her mother, Mrs. New- 
ton, and two daughters; William H. Newton; George F. Holcomb and 
wife; Harry Holcomb; Mrs. G. E. Nettleton and others. This church 
was organized December 31, 1855, with eleven members, and at this 
date had twenty-five members. Sunday school was organized in Aug- 
ust or September and now had three teachers and twelve scholars. 

There were doubtless other church members, not included in 
this list, but they had not been discovered. There were some 
Lutherans among the Swedes, but who they were and how 
many was not kno^^^l. 



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